Ondo group urges FG to upgrade Amotekun to state police

A civic advocacy group, Ondo Citizens for Good Governance (OCGG), has called on the Federal Government and National Assembly to grant constitutional recognition to the Amotekun Corps as a state police force. The group emphasized that formalizing Amotekun would help address the growing insecurity in the South-West more effectively than creating new paramilitary structures.

In a statement issued in Akure, OCGG said the corps has already demonstrated its effectiveness in combating kidnapping, robbery, and herder-farmer clashes, especially in rural and forested areas of Ondo State. They argued that upgrading Amotekun would ensure continuity, professionalism, and local accountability in tackling region-specific threats.

While acknowledging fears of political abuse, the group proposed that clear legal safeguards, independent oversight, and transparent recruitment processes can prevent such risks. They stressed that decentralizing security through state police is a step toward true federalism and community-driven protection.